Ancient Architecture.

ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JUNE 16 , 1866 .

A Lecture delivered to the Lodge St . John's , Galas / nets ( No . 262 J , hj Bro . ADAM : THOMSON , P . M . of that lodge . Brethren : You may think it strange that I should address you for the fourth time upon the subject of ancient architecture , but I have several

reasons for doing so . The first is , that I am passionately fond of the subject myself . I never look upon a magnificent building , whether ancient or modern , without inspiring feelings of awe , wonder , and admiration . In surveying ancient

architecture , the mind naturally reverts to the architect . Ton contemplate with wonder and amazement the godlike powers that fashioned into shape and form the magnificent pile upon which

the eye is gazing . Here is the building , but where are the builders ? Here is the architecture , but where is the architect ? Gone , alas ! to that country from which there is no return , and which ought to stimulate all of us to be up and doing

all the good we can , for even the longest life is comparatively short , and verifies that saying of the wise man , that man goeth and cometh , but the earth abideth for ever . The works of a man ' s hands will long outlive him , and the poet says a

thing of beauty is a joy for ever ; so also , the good ^ that a man does can never die . It will reproduce itself in a thousand different forms , as wave follows wave on the rippling of the waters .

The next reason I have for bringing this subject again before you is , because it is one intimately connected with Freemasonry . I think it would be a mighty advantage to all of us if we would study carefully and practically the subject of architecture .

If our tracing boards were more fully and more frequently covered with geometrical and mathematical subjects , we would soon find our minds developed , our thoughts extended , our ideas strengthened and multiplied , and ourselves made

wiser and better men ; and as Freemasons , instead of wasting our precious time bantering about some trivial matter that should never have crossed the threshold of a Masonic lodge , we should set ourselves to work out these immortal principles so

emphatically taught by Freemasonry . Another reason why I cling to this subject of ancient architecture , as the ivy clings to the mosscovered tower , binding together in its fond embraces the crumbling ruins ~ is , that we are often

called upon as Freemasons to take a part in laying foundation-stones of important buildings ; and by studying architecture and operative Masonry both in practice and theory , it would tend to give us a higher appreciation of the origin of our Craft , the study of which would impart much varied and useful information .

I intend to-night , with your permission , to direct your attention to that important period when Freemasonry , or rather operative Freemasonry , or both combined , dates its origin into an organised system , having its regular lodges and its official

office-bearers for initiating , passing , and raising , and for transmitting its secrets and mysteries from generation to generation . I mean from the date of the building of King Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem . The subject of my address to-night

will therefore be " King Solomon ' s Temple . " At the outset , I need not say that I differ en tirely with Eichard Carlyle , who maintains that such a building , as Solomon ' s Temple , or that such a people as the Israelites , never existed upon

earth . Facts , stern , historical facts , are all against Carlyle in this particular case . Had no temples been built by peoples and nations to the many gods worshipped in ancient times , then we might have had some doubt of the existence of Solomon's

. Temple ; and had no small states ever existed , under laws and a polity of their own , then we might have doubted the existence of the Israelites as a nation . But as temples and small states both existed in ancient times , there is nothing either

in history or the nature of the case to lead to the conclusion that Solomon ' s Temple did not exist .

David , father of Solomon , the anointed of God and King of Israel , lived in troublous times , and being assailed by enemies both within and without his own dominions , he was during his reign almost always at war , which prevented him

from commencing or carrying on any work of great public importance . But about the year 1047 before Christ , having taken from his enemies the city of Jebus and stronghold of Zion , he set the Craft about repairing and

embellishing the walls and public edifices , especially in Zion , where he had fixed his residence , and which was by him called the City of David , and also by him , or in his time the city of Jerusalem . About the year 1015 before Christ , David , finding his personal strength rapidly failing , and his end drawing near , assembled the chiefs of his people , and